Rolf Potts's Blog, page 117

Vagabonding Case Study: Robyn Skinner

Robyn Skinner

robynswanderings.com

Age: 32

Hometown: Bermuda

Quote: "By South America, I had given up on books entirely. The prices were always wrong, and Lonely Planet, in general, liked to focus on where to drink rather than giving a sense of the place. I found talking to locals and backpackers at the hostel was a better avenue than books."



How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful before and during the trip?

I found out about Vagabonding because….it's basically what I have been doing my whole life without a word for it.

How long were you on the road?

11 months and three weeks.

Where all did you go?

Where didn't I go? Europe to the Middle East to South East Asia and then South America. There were 23 countries in total: England, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Egypt, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia.

What was your job or source of travel funding for this journey?

I saved before I left the island and while I was on the road, I was also writing columns for the newspaper in Bermuda.

Did you work or volunteer on the road?

I was a columnist, but I did not volunteer.

Of all the places you visited, which was your favorite?

Chile! The people were great and the land is absolutely stunning. Santiago is completely underrated by every travel writer and Patagonia receives just enough attention. I managed a five-day hike through the Torres del Paine National Park and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have had. Not always fun, not always dry, but always filled with spectacular and stark beauty that included sleeping so close to a glacier I could hear the creaking as its ice-flow settled.

Was there a place that was your least favorite, or most disappointing, or most challenging?

Malaysia. I had heard so many good things from travelers and had also been told that if there was one place for beaches Malaysia was my place to go. I will premise this with the fact that I am from Bermuda and therefore am a self-proclaimed beach snob. Even recognizing my snobbery, however, I was disappointed, even by the Perhentian islands which are much-touted. The country is clearly trying to grow and develop, which is understandable, however, they are doing it at the expense of their country. The food was also less than impressive and things were more expensive in Malaysia than any other South East Asian country I travelled in.

Did any of your pre-trip worries or concerns come true?

Ha! Well, I started the trip with a boyfriend (I hear the jaws music already). Needless to say, it did not work-out. But perhaps not because of travel stress. In fact, we dealt with the stress of travel well; it was during the time of calm when all hell would break loose. I discovered that he had a troubling childhood that he decided to take-out on me while we were taking a nine hour bus in Turkey or visiting his family in northern India. It was not fun and eventually I had to leave to save my arm. I was worried about traveling with him beforehand and turns-out my concerns were valid

Did you run into any problems or obstacles that you hadn't anticipated?

Traveling solo and needing to use the bathroom. Do you know how annoying a 15 kilo backpack can be when you are solo at an airport and need to use the bathroom? Seriously! I think there should be porters you can rent to watch a person traveling solo's gear so they can eat, pee and shop without the weight of their lives on their backs while traveling.

Which travel gear proved most useful?  Least useful?

Best travel gear ever: sewing kit! Random, I know, but when the bag tears or splinters entered my fingers, the sewing kit was there. Small enough to carry with me everywhere, it could be augmented by various colours of thread too!

Least useful? Lonely Planet books. In fact by South America, I had given-up on books entirely. The prices were always wrong (in Egypt the prices were from 1979) and Lonely Planet, in general, liked to focus on where to drink rather than giving a sense of the place. I found talking to locals and backpackers at the hostel was a better avenue than books.

What are the rewards of the vagabonding lifestyle?

Without a doubt the reward for me has been the ability to live frugally and experience humbling situations over a continued period. Sure everyone can go to India for a week or two, but if you travel there for three months, there is no doubt in my mind, your views on life change. Vagabonding also teaches you how little you need to survive in life. For one year I lived with the same clothes (augmented only when I needed some long shirts in Egypt to cover my arms) and even with one backpack, it felt like I had too many clothes. I could have lived on even half of my backpack. It's a realization of the freedom you could have in your life.

What are the challenges and sacrifices of the vagabonding lifestyle?

Relationships. Relationships not on the road, but also at home. After a year on the road I was tired of picking-up friend for a couple of days to a couple of weeks at a time and not forming any real friendships. The same applies at home. While I was away, people my age were meeting their husbands and wives, having children and forming groups for play dates and partying. When I returned it was very hard to fit back in, especially because I had been living so frugally and many people in Bermuda live like tomorrow will never come.

What lessons did you learn on the road?

That if you are on the right path in life then things will work-out. If not? Well then every day is a struggle. As I traveled with my ex-boyfriend every day was a struggle. Museum's were shut, castles were under construction and weather was awful. As I traveled solo, I found the path clearing and even when I found myself stranded in Phitsanulok, Thailand for a night, it was with a couple who would become good friends.

How did your personal definition of "vagabonding" develop over the course of the trip?

It changed from simply traveling, to being strong and courageous. So few people believe in themselves enough to take a direction in life that may not be on the compass. I am not saying I did not worry while on the road, but as I met others doing the same thing, I knew I wasn't crazy for traveling and I could keep going.

If there was one thing you could have told yourself before the trip, what would it be?

Don't be afraid to go it alone!

Any advice or tips for someone hoping to embark on a similar adventure?

The world is friendly and will help you along the way as long as you are going the right way.

When and where do you think you'll take your next long-term journey?

Central and South America, once I get my Spanish going again!

Twitter: robynwarbles
Website: robynswanderings.com

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.

It is rare for people to leave the beaten path in their own country

"The United States, as I have before observed, comprehend an immense extent of territory, with a population running from a state of refinement down to one of positive barbarism; and although the Americans travel much, they travel the well beaten paths, in which that which is peculiar is not so likely to meet the eye or even the ear. It does not, therefore, follow that because what I remark is new to many of them, that therefore it is false. The inhabitants of the cities in the United States, (and it is those who principally visit this country), know as little of what is passing in Arkansas and Alabama as a cockney does of the manners and customs of Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man."

–Captain Frederick Marryat, Diary in America (1839)

Procrastinator's discount: when booking late pays off

Clock Project. Photo: Andrew Magill / Flickr

Slow and steady wins the race, but sometimes it's the hare that gets the best travel deals. The great productivity website Lifehacker had this article on the virtues of being late: How to plan an awesome, last-minute vacation on the cheap.

The article covers everything from choosing the destination to booking a flight to finding a place to stay.  Flights are often the biggest expense.  Reserving your flight as close to takeoff as possible allows you to reap a big discount, because the airlines will sometimes slash airfares to keep the plane from flying with empty seats.  As long as you're not heading into a major holiday, that strategy is solid.

However, the article didn't cover one of my favorite aspects of travel: food.  One of my top tricks is to look up restaurants on Chowhound, a popular discussion board for serious foodies and gourmets.  There are hot discussion threads on cuisines from all over the world, for a wide range of budgets.

Do you have any great stories of snagging great deals on the fly?  Please share your stories in the comments.

Gardner McKay on the merits of slow travel

"I came to realize that I traveled best when I traveled no faster than a dog could trot."

–Gardner McKay, Journey Without a Map (2009)

Arriving overland is the best way to enter a country

"The whole point of traveling is to arrive alone, like a specter, in a strange country at nightfall, not in the brightly lit capital but by the back door, in the wooded countryside, hundreds of miles from the metropolis, where, typically, people don't see many strangers and were hospitable and do not instantly think of you as money on two legs. Arriving in the hinterland with only the vaguest plans is a liberating event. It can be a solemn occasion for discovery, or more like an irresponsible and random haunting of another planet."

–Paul Theroux, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star (2008)

Staying in hostels: yay or nay?

8-bed dorm room at Barnacles Hostel Galway. Photo: Barnacles Hostels / Flickr

Hostels are a mainstay of the budget travel circuit. Share a dorm room with strangers, shave off a big percentage of your accommodation costs.  They do come with some drawbacks however, as this article from The Sydney Morning Herald describes: The problem with staying in hostels.

Although for me, the "problem" the author writes about is my favorite benefit of staying in hostels: meeting other travelers.  I can't imagine how lonely my trips would have been had I opted for private rooms in hotels. As for getting distracted, I think it's really a matter of self-control and politely saying "no."  If you only have one day left in your trip and you're really set on visiting a certain site, then just go.  There's no shame in politely declining an offer from a fellow traveler to hang out in a pub.

I can see where he's coming from, since I've encountered some of the problems he's described, as well others that didn't make the list.  For example, people who snore.  Whenever I walk into a hostel room and see 10+ beds, my heart sinks.  I know the odds favor that at least one person will be a heavy snorer.  Yes, I've also had people stumbling in late at night while drunk, or waking up insanely early to pack because they have a 6 a.m. flight.  But you have to take the bad with the good.

Did you start out sleeping in hostels, but have moved up the accommodation ladder a bit?  It'd be nice to stay in small guesthouses with private rooms, but still have a big common area that encourages conversation.  For more discussion, you can check out this post: Three modes of travel.

How do you feel about hostels?  Please share your stories in the comments.

Places become less distinctive when they become "destinations"

"The Caribbean holiday is a mass-marketed product as well as a place. Like a tin of fruit cocktail, the promise of a holiday experience has been manufactured out of the material and ideological resources available to contemporary culture. The "destination," as they say in the business, is an integral part of the identity of the Caribbean holiday product at the same time as it's strangely irrelevant: basically everything with sun and palm trees will do."

–Alexander Wilson, The Culture of Nature (1991)

Vagabonding Case Study: Dave and Emily Carlson

Dave and Emily Carlson

shortstorylongtrip.tumblr.com

Age: 28

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Quote: " It's exciting to buy stuff when you're in the planning phase. It makes you feel like you're already in the process. But resist the urge – you need much less than you think."

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful?

The book was recommended to us by a friend. When we read it, it resonated with us right away. We felt like, yes! This is not only WHAT we want to do, but WHY we want to do it. It has been a useful resource in all stages of our trip planning and has kept us focused. We also loaned the book to friends and relatives who thought we were crazy. It saved the long explanation!

What is your job or source of travel funding for this journey?

We worked and saved for 5 years to make this dream a reality.

Do you plan to work on the road?

No, when the money runs out, we're going home. Part of the purpose of our trip was to get away from work…we were kinda workaholics.

What was the reaction of your friends/family/colleagues as you planned your trip?

Friends were thrilled for us, and a little envious. Family was mostly supportive, but a few begged us not to go, citing terrorism, natural disasters, and other dangers. Colleagues were pretty split on the issue. Some thought it was wise beyond our years, others saw it as frivolous and irresponsible.

Any tips or lessons learned from the travel-preparation process?

It's exciting to buy stuff when you're in the planning phase. It makes you feel like you're already in the process. But resist the urge – you need much less than you think. And once we started packing our bags, a lot of stuff got returned to the store.

How long do you hope to spend on the road?

9 months

Which destinations do you hope to visit?

Turkey, Greece, Jordan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong

Which experiences are you most looking forward to?

We're looking forward to trying new things – new foods, new viewpoints, meeting new people. We are both creative people by nature, so this diversity feeds our creative spirits.

What are you packing for the journey?

We each have a 40 liter backpack, which fits in the overhead bin of an airplane, so quite small. 3-4 sets of clothes each, toiletries, a camera, a Kindle for our guidebooks, an Ipod Touch to keep in touch with the world, a SteriPen water purifier, and a few odds and ends like flashlight, umbrella, first aid kit. You don't need much, really, and we find that we use EVERY single thing that we brought.

Do you have any worries or concerns about the journey?

Of course! Things are constantly changing in the world – politics, weather, etc. but you can't let fear of those things paralyze you. All you can do is stay up to date on the current situation and make informed decisions. We also have some apprehension about re-entering our "normal" lives. The job market in the US is getting more uncertain, and we realize that we may have a hard time when we return.

How can we best follow your adventures?

On our blog! It's a collection of snapshots and stories from our journey. You can also see our itinerary and reading list (we have one for every country!)

Website: shortstorylongtrip.tumblr.com

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.

There is still no substitute for good travel writing

"A good travel writer can give you the warp and weft of everyday life, the generalities of people's existence that are rarely reflected in journalism, and hardly touched on by any other discipline. Despite the internet and the revolution in communications, there is still no substitute."

–Colin Thubron, quoted in "Home truths on abroad", The Guardian, September 19, 2009

It Might be Time for a Career Break

Where are you at in your life? Are you working in a career that you know is clearly not for you? Have you spent your days since college in a cubicle working in a job you feel no passion for? Or maybe you actually love your job but the long hours and little vacation time is burning you out? Have you dreamed of leaving it all behind for a while to travel and experience the world?

If this is you, then consider taking a career break, a sabbatical, or a leave of absence from your job. If you live in a country like the United States that doesn't exactly embrace this whole philosophy, realize that while it may be challenging, there are plenty of others like you who have done it, are planning to do it, and are dreaming of leaving their jobs behind for a while to traverse the globe.

BootsnAll recently had an entire week dedicated to career breaks. If you have dreamed of taking a career break yourself but are worried about how it will impact your career, why don't you take take advice from those who have done it before. The vast majority of people who take career breaks come back more inspired and more focused on what it is they want out of their lives. And most who have taken that plunge come back more confident, finding it to be a positive on their resumes. A contributor to the article Why a Travel Break Can Be the Best Career Move You'll Ever Make, Nancy Sathre-Vogel, says, "I added a special section to my resume called 'Proudest Moment' and have our bike journey to the ends of the world explained there. I feel it's a huge benefit to others so want to make sure it's prominent. Anybody who doesn't want to hire me because I spent four years biking around the world is somebody I don't want to work for anyway."

Check out the whole article: Why a Travle Break Can Be the Best Career Move You'll Ever Make

If this is a topic that interests you, then you definitely need to check out what the folks over at Meet, Plan, Go! are doing. They are hosting their second annual event in 17 cities across North America on October 18. The events are meant to bring people together who have taken career breaks, are planning one, or simply want to find out more information about doing something that's so uncommon in our society. If you are near any of these cities, you should get your tickets now and get ready to be inspired by like-minded people:

Austin, Texas
Boston, Massachusetts
Chicago, Illinois
Denver, Colorado
Honolulu, Hawaii
Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Minneapolis, Minnesota
New Orleans, Louisiana
New York, New York
Orlando, Florida
Portland, Oregon
San Francisco, California
Seattle, Washington
St. Louis, Missouri
Toronto, Ontario
Washington D.C.

For more information on career breaks plus all the tools to help you prepare for the trip of a lifetime, don't forget to sign up for BootsnAll's monthly RTW Travel Newsletter.